Grieving Military Mothers Rally Around Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey

We now turn to Camp Casey, the anti-war protest site where hundreds have camped out for more than two weeks next to President Bush's Ranch in Crawford Texas. Mothers, wives and other family members gathered there after Cindy Sheehan, the mother of Casey, a solider killed in Iraq last year, began camping near the ranch earlier this month and vowed to stay until Bush met with her.

Cindy left the Camp late last week to go to Los Angeles and care for her ailing mother. She returned on Wednesday and held a press conference on Thursday morning with other members of Gold Star Families for Peace. The conference began with mothers and wives from around the country speaking about their opposition to the war and to Bush”s policies in Iraq. They also asked to meet with Bush and demanded that the troops be brought home.

Cindy also vowed she would lead a national bus tour beginning September 1 and ending September 24 in Washington D.C . That is the day that United for Peace and Justice and other anti-war groups are organizing a rally and march in D.C. Mark Anderson of the organization Eyes Wide Open also spoke at the press conference. Eyes Wide Open organized an exhibition on the human costs of the Iraq war that features a pair of boots honoring each U.S. military casualty. The group had been traveling with Casey's boots for the week.

* Mona Parsons, Son to be Deployed to Iraq
* Caron, Son to be Deployed to Iraq
* Catherine Bonney,Daughter in the Army
* Deb Hagerman,Wife of Iraq War Veteran
* Beth Lerman, Son Serving in Coast Guard
* Theresa Dawson, Son in National Guard
* Karen Merideth, Mother of Soldier Killed in Iraq
* Cindy Sheehan, Son Killed in Iraq

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